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How to Apply

The Department of Homeland Security is committed to hiring a highly talented, dedicated, and diverse workforce, to include persons with disabilities.

Here are the basic steps to finding Homeland Security jobs:

  1. Find the Job Right for You. Find DHS jobs at dhs.usajobs.gov.  You can also use USAJOBS through an Interactive Voice Response Telephone System at 703-724-1850 or TDD at 978-461-8404.  Learn more about the Department's career opportunities.
  2. Read the Job Announcement. The announcement will provide you with information about job qualifications, duties, salary, duty location, benefits, and security requirements. Here you will be able to determine if your interests, education, and professional background make you a good candidate for the job. A list of common terms is available to assist you in understanding Department job announcements.

    Most Homeland Security jobs require U.S. citizenship and successful completion of a full background investigation and drug screening.

  3. Apply for the Job. Follow the instructions in the “How to Apply” section of each USAJOBS announcement (upper right tab). Instructions will guide you through the application process, providing you detailed information on the questions, forms, and format that must be addressed and used to capture your qualifications for the job. Submit all required documents and pay close attention to the application due date and application procedures, which will vary by job and the Department component.

    During the application process, veterans may be asked to identify Veterans Preference status.

    To post your resume online, apply to certain federal jobs, check on the status of your application, and receive automated job alerts, you must create a USAJOBS member account.

  4. Interview for the Job. The names of best-qualified candidates will be forwarded to the supervisor or hiring official. If you are one of the best-qualified candidates, the supervisor or hiring official may interview you in person or by telephone, or in rare cases may hire you based solely on your application materials. Selection procedures are subject to Federal Civil Service laws, which ensure that all applicants receive fair and equal treatment in the hiring process.

The Department of Homeland Security is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Persons with Disabilities

Persons with disabilities who hold a certification eligibility letter from a State Vocational Rehabilitation Office or the Department of Veterans Affairs may apply for Homeland Security employment opportunities through one of several special hiring authorities.

Applicants with certification eligibility letters may apply directly to a Homeland Security Selective Placement Coordinator to be considered for a job.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and/or questionnaire process, immediately notify the point of contact identified in the job announcement.

For more information on hiring authorities, please visit the Office of Personnel Management's Federal Employment of People with Disabilities site or contact a Homeland Security Selective Placement Coordinator.

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